Healthy Gallbladder Diet Tips

Avoid Processed Foods

To avoid pain and other symptoms associated with gallbladder issues, doctors advise patients to avoid processed foods. These include items such as deli meat, cheese, French fries, donuts, and cakes. Patients should also avoid fast food and packaged foods, including crackers and cookies. Many processed foods are high in fat, and this is the most common cause of gallbladder irritation. The gallbladder helps the body digest fats, and eating too much fat could force the gallbladder to overwork, triggering pain and potentially resulting in gallstones. In particular, patients are advised to avoid fatty meats such as bacon, salami, sausage, and meat and fish should be limited to no more than six ounces per day. To reduce fat consumption, it is recommended that patients reduce their intake of fried foods, including potato chips, fried chicken, and anything with a crispy or breaded coating. Baked chips, baked chicken, and baked potatoes are suitable alternatives for these foods. Patients may wish to use an app or a food diary to keep track of their daily fat intake, and nutritionists can suggest healthy meal swaps to make it easier to avoid processed foods.

Consume Lots of Fruits and Vegetables

Patients who regularly consume lots of fruits and vegetables typically have higher fiber and lower fat intakes than other patients, and these factors are believed to protect against gallbladder issues. Experts suggest consuming whole fruits instead of fruit juices or smoothies, and having some plant-based or vegetarian meals each week often helps patients increase their fruit and vegetable intake. A fruit salad could be an ideal alternative to ice cream for dessert, and hummus and chickpeas are excellent as a substitute for mayonnaise on sandwiches and as a salad topping. While it is important to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, citrus fruits can be highly acidic, and this is linked to gallbladder irritation. Patients are advised to avoid citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, and tomatoes need to be avoided since they also contain high levels of acid that could irritate both the stomach and gallbladder. Patients should avoid raw tomatoes and cooked tomatoes, including ketchup and tomato-based pasta sauces, pizza sauces, and soups. Patients who experience irritation or indigestion after eating spicy foods may wish to avoid bell peppers and spicy peppers too.